Regenerating Redruth

Since I was first elected, I have always made clear that economic regeneration in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle was my number one priority. Our local towns were once at the heart of the industrial revolution and our expertise in mining engineering was second to none.

At the height of the tin mining era, Redruth was once one of the wealthiest towns in the land. As the tin mines closed, the fortunes of our local towns like Redruth fell behind other parts of the country but today there remains a legacy of that era with some fabulous and unique architecture in the town. All too often the political attention was on big northern cities, but now we have an opportunity to reset this imbalance and deliver the economic regeneration that our towns and communities need.

A fundamental issue for our part of Cornwall is economic regeneration and how we can make sure our towns get back on their feet and revive. The way people shop has gone through fundamental change and recent events will have accelerated some trends further. Thirty years ago we saw major destination retailers all start to congregate in Truro and towns like Camborne and Redruth lost out and some of the excellent independent department stores were lost. Now, shopping is moving online at great pace and that has left places like Truro in a very vulnerable position.

We therefore need to think about our towns differently in the future.  It may be that the 20th century model of retail taking over the town centre and residential being primarily on estates around the outskirts of town has run its course. We need to get better at making our town centres more of a mixed space for living and working and improving the public realm and streetscape. As more people opt to be self-employed and often make use of digital media to work from home, there is likely to be a change in what our towns are for in the decades ahead. 

In Redruth, the new Kresen Kernow Archive is an excellent start. Projects like Krowji and the work around the Butter Market also show just what is possible with some imagination, passion and local leadership and we now have funds to help facilitate further work. In recent weeks further funding of an additional £1.68m was announced, by Heritage England, to aid in the regeneration of the town. The scheme will focus around Fore Street, increasing its attractiveness to a wider range of residents and visitors and better exploiting its potential.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many high-streets all over the country suffer from a lack of footfall. When we turn the page on this terrible setback we need to think creatively about how to build back better and allow our town centres to find new purpose.

Sport and Community

When the pandemic is finally over, there will be some areas where people will be determined to return to life as it was before but there will be other areas where people will reflect and seek a change in the balance of their lives. Social distancing has made people value friendships and family connections as many had perhaps started to under-appreciate them, given the frantic pace of life in the modern world. People have also discovered a new connection with the natural world during the full lockdown as access to public spaces was just about all we had. 

One area where I think people are determined to see a return to life as it was before will be sports, and perhaps where we will see even more interest is in our many vibrant sports clubs locally. Groups from Cornwall Athletic Club to all our rugby, football and cricket clubs have seen a growth in membership in recent years and I hope this resumes. 

I recently met the dedicated volunteers of Troon Amateur Football Club, at Grouter Park. They are a fantastic example of a local community project that we can be proud of and have played an important role in our community for 50 years. Membership has grown significantly recently and they are engaging children and young people of all ages and abilities. They field three teams in the Cornwall disAbility League, eleven youth teams in the Kernow League, two senior teams and even a “walking football” team. They have worked incredibly hard on plans to build a new clubhouse and facilities at the site and have already secured some important pledges of support. This is a project that deserves backing.

Despite the old stereotype of the brainy children at school being the less sporty, there is a lot of evidence that physical activity and fitness can boost the performance of the brain. There has also been a concern in recent years about the growing problem of childhood obesity. The growth of electronic-games and computers means that some children are less active now than in the past and it requires a special focus on sports to try to counterbalance that development. Cornwall is blessed with a magnificent coastline allowing a whole range of sporting activities that are not realistic prospects in other parts of the country, from surfing to sailing and many others. At Stithians reservoir, we also have the best site in the UK for windsurfing. Everyone can find something that they enjoy or are good at, keeping themselves both mentally and physically healthy.

When I was growing up, my passion was running and I will never forget the volunteers at Cornwall Athletic Club who gave up their time to coach us, drive the minibus to competitions at the weekend and act as officials at all the events. Quite often, these volunteers started because their own children were interested in the sport, but once involved, they were committed and would often stay involved for many years after their children had moved on. Above all, it is volunteers today who keep all of our sports clubs going from rugby and football to cricket, swimming and dance.

Hayle

Last week I visited North Quay to see the current development that has been under construction since the summer and which is starting to take shape quickly. I grew up near Hayle and the regeneration of the harbour area has been talked about most of my lifetime. I can remember in the mid 1980s the attempt by Peter DeSavary to bring a project forward that didn’t get off the ground. In fact, one Hayle historian once showed me a book written around the time of the First World War that said “plans to develop Hayle Harbour have been delayed due to the war.” So perhaps it goes back even further!

There were then a couple more aborted attempts around the turn of the millennium before ING Bank of all people ended up the reluctant owners of the site as the result of one of their clients going in to administration. Progress on plans was then made. Having grown up around the history of false starts for Hayle, when I was first elected in 2010, the Hayle Harbour regeneration was one of the projects that I really applied my self to. I lobbied government to secure grants of around £5 million to improve the infrastructure to North Quay, put in the new bridge and to repair the harbour walls and raise levels to deal with flood risk. I spent many tortuous hours trying to broker an agreement between the local community, who wanted to project to move forward, and English Heritage, a government agency, which kept coming up with different objections.

We got there in the end and the ASDA supermarket was built on South Quay. It took a while for the design to grow on local people but it reflected the accommodation with Natural England and the architecture has now been recognised as a good example of what can be achieved on sites like this when people put their minds to it. ING then sold the rest of the site as they withdrew from the UK. The supermarket was only ever supposed to be the first stage of the regeneration. The final aim was to transform North Quay and have additional residential development and commercial property on South Quay. Sadly, in the past few years things have stalled again but that is now changing and work is underway.

The current first phase of the development along North Quay will be for high specification apartments. There will be around 150 in all and many of these have already been sold off plan. It is likely that the first residents will start to move in around Christmas and things will be well underway by next summer. Once again, the design of the buildings has been chosen to reflect the industrial legacy of the site to accommodate the views of Natural England. The North Quay area was the location of the local Hayle Power Station and an ICI factory and the view is that the buildings should have a nod to this past with an industrial or wharf side feel to the development.

Alongside some of the residential development, there will also be commercial space and restaurants within the development. There are also later phases planned above the Quay and around the fields at Riviera Farm. Initial ground work has already commenced and these later phases should progress over the next 18 monthsor so. When this project is complete, it will transform the harbour area and will be a major boost to Hayle. It will be good to see the harbour area finally regenerated after decades of being overlooked. 

A new vision for skills

On Tuesday last week, the Prime Minister visited Exeter where he announced in a major speech, plans to transform the provision of skills so that more people can retrain and find new, well-paid jobs as we Build Back Better from the Coronavirus Pandemic.

I have always been a strong advocate for apprenticeships and the skills agenda. When I was a student, I studied at Cornwall College between 1987 and 1990 for a BTEC National Certificate in Business Studies and then after that a City and Guilds in Agricultural Management. I have always looked back fondly on my time at Cornwall College and valued the skills that I learnt at the college.

The College has a deep-rooted history in our area and has been at the heart of all further and higher education in Cornwall for the last 80 years or so. It is a vital local asset delivering work-based learning in our area. Until recently there were around 800 apprentices currently training in areas such as plumbing, carpentry and engineering.

Colleges and higher education providers such as Cornwall College will be vital to people’s prospects and chances as a result of the changing economy and the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Work is changing, and it is important that people develop the skills they need to create new and better jobs.

As part of the plans, the government will rapidly expand post-18 education and training. From April adults without an A-Level or qualification will be able to take up the chance of a free and fully funded college course, paid for through the National Skills Fund with the list of available courses to be published shortly.

Further to this, education loans will be made more flexible – allowing adults and young people to choose the length and type of course that is right for them allowing them to take more high-quality vocational courses and to support them to retrain for jobs of the future. But if we’re to encourage more people to pursue a skills-based education then it is important that they have access to the best facilities, and therefore the government are investing over £1.5 billion in capital funding so that our colleges are excellent places for people to learn.

Businesses will also be encouraged to support more apprentices with the government paying businesses £1,000 to take on trainees with £111 million to triple the scale of traineeships which consist of work experience placements, training and work preparation for 16-24 year olds. We know that there is more that can be done and central to this work will be making apprenticeship training work better alongside modern and flexible working practices in construction and the creative industries so that more examples are available. 

Further details of the government’s plans will be announced in the months ahead but providing people with the ability to gain the skills they need may be transformational in the years to come.

An historic moment for our fishing communities

Yesterday marked an historic moment for fishing. We have entered into our first fisheries agreement as an independent coastal state, an important step in building a prosperous future for the UK fishing industry. That includes our fishing communities here in Cornwall, from Newlyn to Mevagissey and Hayle to Looe.

The UK-Norway Fisheries Framework Agreement was negotiated between the UK and Norway as independent coastal states, through friendly cooperation as sovereign equals. It reflects our rights under international law and makes clear that the UK will be an ambitious, constructive, and pragmatic partner to like-minded fishing nations as we leave the Common Fisheries Policy.

After 40 years, we finally have our own seat at the fisheries negotiating table rather than being represented by the European Commission. In all our negotiations, we will work with other North Atlantic states, like Norway or the Faroes, to insist on a fairer approach. We can work together to manage our fisheries flexibly, responsively, and responsibly – negotiating access to waters and fishing opportunities annually so we can make decisions based on the latest science and the health of our fish stocks.

The agreement we have reached with Norway shows what can be achieved when both parties take a sensible approach to negotiations. We are taking the same approach to fisheries negotiations with the European Union, and have been clear that we want a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable future for our fisheries.

The Fisheries Bill sets out a new framework to allow us to manage fisheries outside the CFP, and gives the UK control of our waters and the opportunity to set fishing opportunities. We have the power to decide who can access UK waters and on what terms – ensuring that our fishing fleets can prosper.

For too long, we have only caught about half of the fish in our waters. And for too long, a ‘one size fits all’ mindset in Brussels has seen targets, measures, rules, and regulations swell rather than fish stocks – with too much reporting and too little action to improve sustainability and resilience.

Our approach will adapt to the latest scientific evidence, respond to technological innovation, and work transparently with local industry and local communities. And we are leading calls to end the wasteful discarding of fish at sea, working on an approach that will mean all catches can be landed, while preventing over-fishing.

Now that we have left the EU we have a great opportunity to chart a new course for our fishing industry and we owe it to our hard-working fishing communities to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to take back control of our natural resources. Through agreements like the one we have signed with Norway, we will help them access the sea’s riches, while restoring our fish stocks to healthy levels so we achieve a better balance for the future.

COVID-19 - An Update

Trying to get back to living our lives as a close as possible to normal while accepting that we will all be living alongside the cornonavirus for some time to come is a great frustration for everyone. It is frustrating for restaurants and other businesses trying to get back in the saddle, for children and young people trying to resume their education and local sports clubs, bands and choirs who have all seen their activities severely disrupted.

In common with other viruses like the flu virus, the transmission rate is clearly linked to seasonal factors. Southern Hemisphere countries like South Africa and Australia saw huge peaks during their winter in late July with the disease then tapering off. We managed to loosen the restrictions and measures over the summer but we are now seeing a growth in infection rates again. The government has been closely monitoring the position over the last four weeks. This week it became clear that we are on a similar trajectory to some other European countries like France. The infection rate is doubling roughly every 7-10 days. Also in common with other countries, the trend has tended to be that infection picks up first among young people aged between 18-22 before broadening out to other age groups.

We have learnt quite a lot about the virus over the last nine months so this week the Prime Minister outlined a tightening of some of the measures now in order to avoid another lockdown situation later. A stitch in time saves nine, as the saying goes, and the idea behind the announcements this week is that if we act now to dampen the spread, then we can keep schools open, allow pubs and restaurants to continue to trade and enable people to continue to work.

So to ensure all this can happen, the mandatory use of face masks is being extended to other settings, there is going to be a new 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants and a requirement for table service in those settings to avoid people mixing. There will also be more action to enforce some of the measures we have in place now. As time has gone on people’s willingness to abide by some of the restrictions has waned but as we head into winter, we do now need people to become more vigilant again. None of these decisions are easy and they will, of course, lead to new frustrations for many businesses but if we all take special care now, we are better placed to get through the winter.

My office in Camborne is still opening to assist people with problems in their lives but to reduce the risk of the virus we are encouraging people, wherever possible, to contact us by email or telephone. I am also doing regular telephone surgeries to discuss issues with local residents. If you have an issue that you would like to discuss with elf or the team that supports me then please call 01209 713355 or email george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk.

Protecting the Integrity of the United Kingdom

Seven months ago, on 31st January the UK left the European Union. In the time since, the Government have been working hard to get a future free trade agreement that builds on what has already been agreed and delivers a future trading relationship that is in the interest of both the UK and the European Union.

The Withdrawal Agreement itself recognised that there were a few loose ends and points of detail relating to how the agreed arrangements in Northern Ireland would work in practice. To work through these a Joint Committee was established so that UK and EU officials could work through these points of detail and that work is ongoing. It looks at minor technical details such as how the agreed approach to tariff procedures would work and what sorts of checks would be required for different goods. However, in the event that there remain some unresolved issues at the end of that process, it may well be necessary for Parliament to legislative to provide the necessary legal certainty and clarity that business needs and that is one of the issues debated this week through a new Internal Market Bill. I think it is essential that Parliament has the necessary powers to act where necessary to give legal effect to the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement and therefore fully back the measures brought forward.

Discussions on a future trade agreement are continuing but there are several important sticking points which require the EU to become more realistic if a trade agreement is to be concluded. Firstly, the EU have been making unrealistic asks regarding the future of fishing access which is of great importance to the west country. We are not requesting anything extraordinary. The UK simply wants to be like Norway and to control access to its own waters as provided for in international law and as every other independent country does. Secondly, the EU are requesting that we continue to follow their laws in some areas like the approach to subsidies and state aid. Obviously neither of the positions currently held by the EU are acceptable given that we are leaving the EU and re-establishing our independence.

The reason we need the Bill is that the EU have begun to say that unless we agree to their terms, they may attempt to use an extreme interpretation of the Northern Ireland protocol to impose a full-scale trade border down the Irish sea. Moreover, EU negotiators have said that they might not only impose tariffs on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, but that they might actually stop the transport of food products from GB to NI essentially blockading one part of the UK to cut it off and destroy the economic and territorial integrity of the UK. It is possible that if and when the moment comes, the EU would think better of such a course but a responsible government must ensure it has the necessary powers to protect the integrity of the UK and to stand behind the Belfast agreement that we are a party to. Only the UK has the ability to legislate to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland and that is why this Bill is important.

We have left the EU, and although the EU may not have reconciled itself with that, they should be aware that the UK is serious about its new found sovereignty. As the world’s fifth largest economy with world leading expertise in science, finance and industry, we have an incredibly strong hand of cards to play as we go out into the world as a sovereign, independent nation.

Helping others during difficult times

Throughout the last few months, on every front, we have all had to try to work out how to return to something closer to normal life while recognising that we have to live alongside the virus for some time to come. Measures we have put in place have evolved from a full lockdown to steps that reduce the transmission of the disease through observing social distancing, wearing face masks and having localised restrictions where there are flare ups.

In the search for normality, many of us have taken up the opportunity to support local businesses which are so vital to our local economy here in Cornwall. Part of this has seen people partake in the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out Scheme which throughout August, saw more than 100 million meals eaten, helping to protect the livelihoods of 1.8million people in the hospitality industry. On a local level we saw more than 128,000 meals claimed with 119 restaurants and hospitality businesses signed up to the scheme across the constituency.

The scheme has been a fantastic success and nationally has been credited with protecting 1.8million jobs across the country with restaurant bookings significantly up on the previous year. The Government recognises that the hospitality industry may continue to experience further difficulties in the months ahead and will continue to provide support with a temporary discount to VAT, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, until 12 January 2021.

Across the South West, this message of the Government working to support businesses and the self-employed, has been clear for many to see with over £2billion in government grants being provided. The data confirms that Cornwall has received £246million in grants for businesses and highlights the unprecedented package of support to protect lives and livelihoods as we continue to work hard to protect, support and create jobs to ensure we come back stronger.

I know that in the weeks and months ahead, many will be apprehensive as schools return and many return to offices. It is also the case that the infection rate is starting to rise again and this is causing concern and means we now need to strengthen some of the rules around meetings in groups. A particular concern is younger people aged 18-24 who have been gathering in larger groups again and this is where the infection rate is starting to increase.

The new measures introduced this week are a reminder that we are far from being out of the woods. There is lots that we can do as individuals to protect ourselves, from regularly washing our hands, to wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and businesses are doing all that they can to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

My office remains open if you have a problem that you need help solving. I can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk, by telephone on 0207 219 7032.

Parliament returns

Earlier this week, Parliament returned from the summer recess, with a number of important issues and debates to be had. For many, Monday also marked the point in which schools and offices began to return in a safe way. Understandably people will continue to have concerns about COVID-19, but I know that the government is working with businesses, schools and local communities to help further reduce the spread of the virus and keep people safe.

One of the questions that is often asked to MPs when they return from the summer recess, is what their priorities are for the term ahead. Locally there are a number of important projects that I have been working on for some time and which are moving forward. In Hayle some years after the first phase of the harbour regeneration, and the marine business park, we are now seeing the new housing development that was always planned along North Quay. In Camborne and Redruth, we have also seen discussions continue about how best to utilise the funds that have been provided to them to aid in their economic regeneration. There is an opportunity to do something different with the bus station area in Camborne which could change the town centre and a number of candidate projects to help restore historic buildings in Redruth.

In parliament and in my role as Environment Secretary, there are also a number of priorities that we are working on. On Tuesday, the Fisheries Bill returned to the House of Commons for its Second Reading. As we leave the EU we have a great opportunity to chart a new course for our fishing industry. The current quota sharing arrangement within the EU is profoundly unfair to the UK fleet. Here in Cornwall French Fishermen receive about five times as much haddock quota as local Cornish Fishermen’s which can’t be right. The Common Fisheries Policy also guaranteed access to EU vessels in UK waters. The Bill gives us the powers to control access to our waters in future with all foreign vessels requiring a licence stating where they can fish and what they can catch and it gives new powers to improve the marine environment and a requirement for objectives and plans to deliver sustainable fishing in line with the science.

In the months ahead, I know that families and people across the constituency will have concerns about what may happen with their jobs, or whether there will be a second COVID spike in cases. My office remains open if you have a problem that you need help solving or advice on difficult matters. I and my team can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or by telephone on 0207 219 7032.

Return of schools

Throughout the last few months, on every front, we have all had to try to work out how to return to something closer to normal life while recognising that we have to live alongside the virus for some time to come. measures we have put in place have evolved from a full lockdown to steps that reduce the transmission of the disease through observing social distancing, wearing face masks and having localised restrictions where there are flare ups.

In recent weeks schools have been doing a lot of work to identify steps that will enable all children and young people to resume their education. For many pupils, next week will be the first time that they have returned to school since the beginning of lockdown in March.

During lockdown, parents quickly adapted to the situation educating their children at home and teachers found innovative ways to teach through the internet and other programmes. It was a national challenge but one in which parents and teachers alike played their part and helped to ensure that children kept learning through difficult circumstances.

However, we now need to ensure that children can resume their education in school safely. Time spent out of class means lower average academic attainment and its vital that we ensure that the Coronavirus pandemic does not have a lasting impact on their future. Moreover, the return to the classroom is also crucial for the welfare and health of children. Socialising with friends, playing sports, and exploring creative subjects are all important parts of how children grow up and learn.

I understand that many will have concerns about COVID-19 in schools. The country’s Chief Medical Officer has said that there is only an exceptionally small risk from COVID-19 in the classroom, and I know that headteachers, governors and all who work in our schools are working hard to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible. Guidance published by the government will be closely adhered although different schools will have different settings and different issues to resolve but everyone will be working hard to keep our children safe.

Supporting our students

When the country entered the lockdown phase some time ago now, one of the decisions initially taken to protect people and stop the spread of the virus was for schools to only remain open for parents of key workers. A consequence of this was that children across the country partook in online learning with many teachers coming up with innovative methods of teaching. At the same time the Secretary of State for Education confirmed that assessments and exams would not be taking place this year and that work was underway with the sector and Ofqual to ensure that young people would receive the qualifications they need.

Whilst it was not possible for exams to go ahead the Department for Education worked with Ofqual to identify a way of awarding grades in conjunction with schools and assessment centres. Undoubtedly there would be limitations to such an approach, however an appeals system was quickly implemented to help with any schools or colleges that had experienced a process or data error. 

On Thursday last week when A level and AS level grades were awarded, there was an overall increase in the top grades. At A level, 2.5% more students received an A* or an A, attainment was broadly in line with previous years, and more students got into university than ever before, including more from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Unfortunately, it also became clear that the algorithm used to help calculate the grades revealed a number of anomalies that had not been anticipated by Ofqual which undermined confidence in the system. On Friday I spoke to the head teacher at Camborne School of Science and International Academy who subsequently raised some of the concerns that they had over the process. Over the weekend I also received representations from concerned parents and students who had been affected by the lower grades that they had received. I subsequently raised these concerns with officials and it was clear that nationally the system had resulted in too many inconsistent and unfair outcomes.

As a result, earlier this week, the Education Secretary has confirmed that GCSE students will therefore receive their centre assessment grades on Thursday, or their calculated grade if it was higher. A level students will be reissued with their centre assessment grades – any who received a calculated grade higher than their centre assessment grade will still receive the higher.

Understandably this move will create different pressures for universities, but the Department for Education are working closely with the sector to create additional capacity and ensure that they are as flexible as possible and that they honour all offers made and met. Students who previously missed their offer and will now meet it on the basis of their centre assessment grade should get in contact with the university. Those who have accepted another offer will be able to release themselves if they have a preferred offer reinstated. I hope that in the weeks ahead, many more local students can now pursue their ambition and take the next step in their careers.

Planning for the future

Whilst much of the country continues to endure a heatwave, it has been nice to be back home in Cornwall where it has been much cooler and fresher with the Cornish mist that is a regular feature at this time of year. Over the past week, I have been visiting some of my favourite spots in Cornwall such as Godrevy, Zennor, Mounts Bay and the gardens at Trebah, Trelisick and Heligan. Many of these areas are part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are part of what makes Cornwall such a special place to live and work.

Last year the government commissioned a review into National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The conclusion was that more should be done to strengthen them and improve cohesion between them. Cornwall has a rather unique AONB in that it is a composite site with multiple areas predominantly around our beautiful coastline. At the time of designation, there was serious consideration to designating it a National Park but in the end, they settled for the AONB. Later this year I will be giving a response to that review and will be looking at how we can strengthen the AONBs.

Ever since I was elected in 2010, I have always maintained that developments should be done with local communities, not to them and that there should always be developments on brownfield sites rather than greenfields. Last week, the Government released its White Paper on its reforms of the planning system. As things stand our planning system is complex and slow. It is a barrier to building homes that are affordable, where families want to raise children and build their lives. It takes an average of seven years to make a housing plan for an area and five years to get permission to build, often followed by the slow delivery of homes and the roads, schools, hospitals and other community infrastructure needed to support them.

The White Paper will consult on a number of proposals ranging from new roles for local authorities with more accessible map-based local plans and quicker timetables in the development of these plans. Crucially, there will also be a new emphasis on building beautiful architecture that is in keeping with the surroundings. Too often in the past here in Cornwall, we have seen large scale developments that are not consistent with our historic built environment and which end up looking tired. We need to put more emphasis on the quality of what we allow to be built. If we protect our most beautiful and unique areas and then when we do build, build things that look the part, we can deliver the homes we need and protect the natural beauty of Cornwall.

A new beginning for Wave Hub?

The Wave Hub Project in Hayle was the first commercial scale demonstration project for wave power in the world and when it was originally being developed some ten to fifteen years ago, there was a lot of potential. I always got behind the idea of wave power as part of our renewables energy mix. Here in the far south west we have enormous energy contained within the Atlantic swell. There have been a number of tentative developers who have been close to deploying at wave hub and one that actually did. However, a decade on, it is important to take stock. Some of the technical challenges around harnessing the power of waves have been harder to crack than hoped and, at the same time, offshore wind technology has progressed in leaps and bounds and now makes a major contribution to our national energy needs.

Recognising these developments, Wave Hub is now diversifying its approach and utilising the Wave Hub infrastructure for the deployment of Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW). A floating offshore wind turbine is an offshore wind turbine that allows a turbine to generate electricity in water depths where fixed -foundation turbines are not possible but they make use of what is now a mature technology using wind turbines. They are usually placed in shallow waters and are able to reach stronger and more consistent winds than onshore wind turbines. The Celtic Sea is a unique area containing the required depths to build the offshore wind towers required to generate the renewable wind. Moreover placing them out at sea helps to reduce the effect that such an installation would have were it to be inshore.

Floating offshore wind is at a unique point in its development and the opportunity for the Wave Hub site to be used as a base to implement this renewable technology is exciting. In recent months I have been working with the team at Wave Hub to help overcome some of the issues that need to be resolved so that the plan can be progressed. We have made some good progress, but there is still a bit more to be settled.

Camborne, Redruth and Hayle are towns that have always had a rich industrial heritage leading to some of the most important inventions and discoveries that this country has made. Much of the expertise developed here in drilling technology for mining was transferred to drilling for offshore oil and gas with companies like Seacore and LDD at Tolvaddon and these companies are now applying their expertise to offshore renewables. We have the skills locally to make this project succeed, even if by a different route than originally intended.

The Great British holiday

Parliament has now broken for the summer and I am looking forward to August back in Cornwall to catch up with family and friends. When the lockdown occurred I was in London and needed to stay at that end to deal with the Coronavirus response and some of the daily press conferences.

After months of lockdown it is entirely understandable that many people took the chance to go to Spain for their annual holiday. For a lot of families, they would have booked their holiday at the beginning of the year and won’t get a chance again to take time off year with their children. To try to help these families, the government cautiously lifted the quarantine requirements for some countries where the risk was judged low but we have had to keep the issue under close review. The decision this week to put back quarantine requirements for those returning from Spain shows that we still have to be cautious as we try to live our lives alongside the virus.

For those, however, who do not want to risk travelling abroad, there is of course the great British holiday. Across the country from our golden sandy beaches and beautiful gardens and landscapes in Cornwall, to the rolling hills of the north, Britain has restful landscapes if not always the perfect beach weather! Many of these areas are heavily dependent on tourists who typically visit from Easter until the early autumn, but because of Coronavirus have experienced financial problems. By holidaying here in the UK we can give something back to communities across the country and truly make a difference to their businesses.

My daughter is now coming up to three years old and associates Cornwall with the seaside so I am sure we will be spending some time at Gwithian. Paradise Park is another must visit attraction. They are also home to the World Parrot Trust which does some much conservation work internationally to rescue birds from the illegal trade in endangered birds captured from the wild. Along the Helford we also have some stunning gardens like Trebah and Glendurgan which I hope to get to in the next few weeks and we may venture further afield to the Eden Project.

I hope that in the weeks ahead, many of you will get a chance to have a break. My office remains open if you have a problem that you need help solving. I can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk, by telephone on 0207 219 7032

My Vision for a Green Recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic

Earlier this week, I gave a speech setting out my vision for how we can recover from the Coronavirus Pandemic. There is no doubt that the impacts of this pandemic will be felt deeply for many years, but the experiences that many have had, have led us to appreciate the difference that nature makes to our lives in a new way. Now more than ever we are reminded that it is in our best interests to look after nature.

When we destroy nature, we undermine our very foundations. Every country faces a choice as they map out their recovery - store up problems by sticking with the status quo, or get back on our feet by building back better and greener. We require a long term approach and political commitment to tackling the environmental challenges, and so we will be publishing a paper that sets out our approach to setting long-term targets on biodiversity, waste, water, and air quality through the new Environment Bill, so they are established in time by October 2022.

Long before the EU, the UK was a driving force in establishing other international conventions to help our natural environment, and now that we are leaving the EU, an opportunity awaits to adapt our approach to the environment. We can borrow approaches that worked in the EU in the past, but we must challenge ourselves to think creatively, to innovate and to consciously avoid clinging to processes and procedures just because they are familiar.

So, as we chart a new course for our approach to protecting the environment, we should recognise that the environment and our ecosystems are a complex web of interactions that mankind will never fully understand let alone manage. We should re-balance the way we approach policy development with more focus on science and technical knowledge and less time fretting about legal risks of doing something new or innovative. We should have fewer reports that say nothing new – but more new ideas that we should actually try. If we are to protect species and habitats and also deliver biodiversity net gain, we need to properly understand the science to inform these crucial decisions. And we should ask ourselves whether the current processes are as effective or efficient as they could be.

At the heart of our approach is a simple premise. If we can improve the baseline understanding of habitats and species abundance across the country in every planning authority, then we can make better decisions towards achieving our vision to leave the environment in a better state than we found it. We can reduce process while simultaneously improving the quality of the data that informs our decisions. We can move quickly to rule out issues that we know don’t exist leaving us time to focus on the protections that matter most for the species and habitats most affected – so we ensure that new developments really do mean a net gain for people and for nature.

In recent decades, our approach to environmental regulation , has been to protect what is left and to stem the tide of decline. However, if we really want to realise the aspirations that the public have for nature then we need policies that will not only protect but that will build back – with more diverse habitats that lead to a greater abundance of those species currently in decline.

Supporting Cornwall’s businesses

In the past few weeks, businesses and workspaces across the country have begun to reopen following their closures as a consequence of the Coronavirus. For many, the past few months have been an extremely challenging time with problems relating to a loss of income and the various other challenges associated with this.

On the 4th July many of these businesses had the opportunity to re-open and I spent the weekend in the constituency meeting people and visiting some of the businesses that were getting ready to start again. All of the businesses had implemented the guidance and social distancing measures required to make their premises COVID-19 secure maintaining the safety of staff and visitors alike.

There have been some great examples of local Cornish businesses stepping in to help during the Coronavirus episode. The Penventon Hotel offered up its rooms for key NHS staff working at Treliske and also set aside a part of the hotel to be a temporary nursing home so that patients could be discharged from hospital earlier and cared for from the hotel. As things start to get back to normal they are now open to the public again and taking bookings for the remainder of the summer.

My visit to Hayle also showed some of the difficulties businesses have as we adjust to reopen again and the different needs of different types of shop. Cornwall Council have been trying to support local town councils with any measures to assist in making social distancing work. On Penpol Terrace a decision had been taken to cone off the roadside parking. The cafes welcomed the move because they wanted to put tables outside on the pavement, however, the other retailers relied on customers being able to pull in and park to go into their shop. In the end, a decision was taken to remove the cones and allow cars to park there again. All of this shows the trial and error nature of the situation we all find ourselves in.

I know that in the weeks and months ahead, many will be apprehensive about the continued re-opening of Cornwall. However, it may take some time to finally see the virus disappear altogether and for the time being, we will all need to learn to live our lives alongside it and that includes finding ways to enable people to safely visit beautiful Cornwall and spend their money here so that our many fabulous restaurants, camp sites and hotels are given a future. There is lots that we can do as individuals to protect ourselves, from regularly washing our hands, to wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and businesses are doing all that they can to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

The next few months are critical to our local economy here in Cornwall. It is vital that we do what we can to support our local shops and high streets whilst also remaining safe.

A New Deal for Britain and Cornwall

Early last week, the Prime Minister travelled to Dudley and outlined his vision for a “New Deal” that will see an ambitious strategy to rebuild the country, placing jobs, skills and infrastructure investment at the heart of the country’s recovery from Coronavirus.

The past few months have seen many of us contend with the effects of Coronavirus. However, it was good to get out and meet businesses and people on Saturday as many re-opened their doors for the first time since the virus forced them to close. There was good will from everyone, and lots of people venturing out to shop local and support local businesses and our great Cornish economy.

In his speech, the Prime Minister committed to using the coronavirus pandemic to tackle the country’s great unresolved challenges of the last three decades which successive governments have ducked: to build the homes, to fix the NHS, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK, and to unite and level up.

This is a commitment that I have also worked hard to deliver on since first being elected in 2010. From that first moment, I made clear that the economic regeneration in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle was my number one priority. Over the last 9 years, I have worked hard to achieve this and in recent years we have made progress in regenerating our towns with the new link road, developments around Tuckingmill, the prospect of South Crofty reopening and new jobs in industries like computer software. In Hayle we have the new development at the Harbour attracting jobs and inward development, and in Camborne and Redruth we have seen both towns qualify for huge sums of money to aid in their economic regeneration.

Following the Prime Minister’s speech, there were a number of key announcements, illustrating the Government’s commitment to levelling up Camborne, Redruth and Hayle. As part of a programme to expand classrooms, upgrade facilities and improve the education of children, six schools across the constituency were selected for funding and will see improvements carried out. There was also a further commitment to continue the work of the Camborne Town Board, with an additional £500,000 to spend on projects that will see improvements to the public realm, the high street and other key areas of Camborne. It was also confirmed that the town of Hayle, would also receive funding to help fund projects that will increase the sale and consumption of locally caught seafood.

These were all positive projects and once more showed the government’s promise of delivering for our towns. Too many parts of this country including here in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, have felt left behind, neglected, unloved, and its welcome to see a government committed to levelling up our great towns, providing, jobs, growth and opportunities.

Climate Change

Last week the Climate Change Committee published its report into the progress that the UK is making in reducing carbon emissions and contributing to tackling climate change. As the Secretary of State in Defra I attended their virtual meeting to participate in the discussion about progress to date. Earlier this week, the Council for Sustainable Business also met. This is a new organisation that brings together some of Britain’s largest companies and which coordinates action by individual businesses to play their part for the environment.

Climate change and environmental concerns more widely have risen up the agenda in recent years. Fifteen years ago, David Cameron made it a central part of his agenda. When the Conservatives came to power we brought our environmental agenda with us. As the Committee of Climate Change report acknowledged, a great deal has been achieved. The UK has made significant progress over the last decade and is the best performing G20 country. We have reduced carbon emissions by about forty percent so far and we have ambitious policies that will achieve more in the years ahead. We were the first country to introduce a Climate Change Act which sets targets for emission reduction. We have met the first two carbon budget targets and we are on course to meet the third in a couple of years time. However, everyone recognises that there is more to do to achieve our targets later this decade.

Over the last ten years, the huge strides we have made have been achieved principally through the huge growth of renewable energy. Major technological breakthroughs in offshore wind generation have been a game changer. Here in Cornwall, work is taking place to deploy the next generation of offshore wind in deeper water with floating offshore wind likely to be piloted at Wave Hub.

However, in the years ahead other changes will be made by the government to ensure we remain the global leader in carbon emissions reduction. The technology around electric vehicles is advancing very quickly which means we are on course to phase out the use of petrol and diesel cars. We also have huge ambitions to dramatically increase tree planting and to restore some of our peatland areas to their natural state. Helping nature recover is going to be an incredibly important part of future phases to address climate change.

Next year, the UK will host COP 26, which is the next global meeting of nations to discuss climate change. One of our key objectives from this conference will be to secure greater recognition and more commitments from every country towards nature based solutions to contribute to tackling climate change. I will be working with colleagues in government as we develop this ambitious agenda for the future.

Cornwall is re-opening for business

Over the last twenty years Cornwall has developed a really powerful and unrivalled brand for tourism. The essential ingredients are our beautiful coast and striking landscapes, a warm welcome and our cultural distinctiveness and a fantastic reputation for great food. It has become a vitally important industry for our communities and the drastic measures that have had to be taken to control the Coronavirus have had a terrible impact.

Hospitality businesses always see the Easter break as a turnaround point when they emerge from the winter and start to turn the corner and get positive cash flow again. This Easter, we entered lockdown and they have lost half the season. The government opened some unprecedented support schemes, suspending business rates, issuing grants to small businesses and covering payroll costs for furloughed staff to prevent unnecessary redundancies. However, these could only ever offer temporary respite. Now that we have the virus under control, we need to take further steps to getting back to life closer to normal albeit with vitally important steps to prevent the spread of the virus and keep people safe.

The last few weeks have already brought a reduction in the restrictions with public gardens, parks and zoos tentatively reopening to the public with the evidence detailing that the risk of transmission outdoors is very low. This gradual easing of restrictions has so far been done while the infection rate of the virus has been held stable so far.

Earlier this week the Prime Minister announced the next stage. From Saturday 4th July, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they adhere to COVID Secure guidelines. From the same date, he has set out that two households will be able to meet up in any setting with social distancing measures, and that people can now enjoy staycations in England and Cornwall with the reopening of accommodation sites such as campsites and B&Bs that make up many of the unique tourism businesses across Cornwall.

In order to begin restoring the arts and cultural sector, some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also reopen, if they can do so safely – this includes outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades, as well as libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres.

Of course, in the weeks ahead we all have a role to play to ensure that the virus does not re-emerge stronger and effecting more people. The Government’s approach will remain cautious as we seek to control the rate of infection but we are continuing to take steps that can help get people back closer to life as normal. A crucial part to controlling the virus in future will be to closely monitor local outbreaks through testing and tracing the virus and to have very targeted local approaches to asking people to self isolate if they have symptoms or have been exposed to someone else who has.

I understand that there will be a degree of apprehension among some about whether Cornwall in particular would become exposed through an influx of visitors. However, it may take some time to finally see the virus disappear altogether and for the the time being, we will all need to learn to live our lives alongside it and that includes finding ways to enable people to safely visit beautiful Cornwall and spend their money here so that our many fabulous restaurants, camp sites and hotels are given a future.

Think Local, Shop Local

Earlier this week, all non-essential retail shops were allowed to re-open and once more commence trading. For many businesses, this was the first time in months that they could open to the public. Businesses up and down the country have been preparing for this moment and precautions have been put in place with extensive guidance from the Government and Public Health England.

Many of these non-essential retail shops are integral to the fabric of our local communities, especially across Cornwall where there is a strong local community. As we emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, I and my Conservative colleagues across Cornwall launched the Think Local, Shop Local campaign to encourage people to shop locally and help local shops get back on their feet. From our local pasty shops, to fashion and hardware, our highstreets are full of opportunities and bargains.

An update on the Brexit negotiations

Whilst COVID-19 has dominated much of the political and media discourse in recent months, the Government has been actively going about its negotiations with the EU on a future free trade agreement. After years of wrangling we finally left the EU at the end of January and the Transition Period will expire at the end of December. Last week, Michael Gove led a meeting between UK and EU officials where he formally confirmed that there would be no extension to the transition period and that on January 1, 2021, the UK will take back control and regain our political & economic independence.

There have been a couple of sticking points in the discussion about a future trade agreement. Firstly, the EU are making unrealistic asks regarding the future of fishing access which is of great importance to the west country. The second sticking point is that the EU are requesting that we continue to follow their laws in some areas. Obviously neither of these requests are reasonable nor acceptable. We have left the EU so that we can control our own laws again and it is what every other independent country does. Likewise, on fisheries, we are just asking for what every other country has which is to be an independent coastal state like Norway and to control access to our waters and reach sensible annual agreements with our neighbours on the management of shared stocks.

There is now going to be an intensive approach to try to secure a breakthrough in the discussions over the next few weeks but if that does not occur then we will still have the agreement that was signed late last year and which provides a basis on which to proceed after the end of the transition period.